"I write because I find humor in the absurdities of daily life. Sometimes I feel sadness too, and I find I can write my tears away. I write when I'm angry and feel I must right a wrong. I write when I'm touched and want others to see beauty and gentleness. I write, as many others do, because I must." -Elaine Fantle Shimberg

Shopping, for many people, is an enjoyable activity. However, there are factors that can turn a supposedly fun task into a dreadful one: super long lines, a hot environment, and difficulty in finding stuff that you're looking for, among other things.

Super8's house brand, Great Buy, offers various household products

According to Alvin Lim, Chief Executive Officer of Super8 Grocery Warehouse, they recognize that many of their customers are shopkeepers and mothers who appreciate not only saving money but also saving time. "Our focus is not really in the products we sell but how we do things. We put a lot of value in service. So we not only provide shoppers with affordability, but convenience and accessibility as well."

Super8's Alvin Lim and Armand Mendoza

"When they go to Super8, we hope we have lesser lines and more products so they won't have to look for them anywhere else," he explains. "At the end of the day, we are very customer-centric. Whatever we do, it has to always lead up to the customers having a better experience inside our stores. And we want to be consistent about that."

bundled canned goods

"Hindi nauuso sa amin ang pababaan ng presyo kasi, nakamura ka nga, pawis-pawis ka naman, masama ang loob mong namili ka, na-hassle ka pa. We found those out based on the customers we have," he reasons. "Sometimes, value is not really monetary but the balance of comfort and how the store understands customers' needs."

first day of Super8's Fun Fest

These past three days, Super8 held its annual event to bring together its key business partners and to thank its loyal customers for their continued patronage. On its fifth year, Super8 Funfest showcased numerous shopping deals, entertainment numbers from popular celebrities, and exciting raffle prizes and freebies. "This is our way of saying thank you to our cardholders," affirmed Armand Mendoza, Super 8 General Manager. "Here, shoppers easily get at least 12% savings plus freebies and entertainment."

a promo girl with one of the cute mascots during the Fun Fest

Funfest attendees had a treat visiting various booth presented in a Bida Ka Sa Savings Serye theme. The creativity of the designs definitely embodied the event's goal to be the biggest savings serye to hit primetime shopping. Held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Super8 Funfest gave shoppers chances to win gadgets, appliances, gift certificates, motorcycles, and a brand new Toyota Avanza apart from offering more than a thousand good shopping deals.

creative booths inside World Trade Center

When asked how they named the grocery warehouse, Lim shared, "Super is the mindset of how we look at things. Anything we start we really want to make it super while eight means lucky. So, super lucky." He also described how the business grew as the customers evolved.

fun fishing activity at the Oishi booth

For instance, aside from the Super8 Rewards Card, the store has launched a mobile app so customers can easily track their points and check the latest promos. "To be relevant, we have to evolve with our customers," Lim pointed out. "Now, we can engage with them electronically and digitally via the app and I think it will help us be more successful at communicating with them better."

freebies at the Unilab booth

With 60 stores already in existence, Super8 is planning to open 10 stores a year in the next three years. "But, more than telling people we have these many stores, for us, it's just a number. What's more important is knowing how many happy people we are able to serve. I think that is a better way to gauge how successful our company is," concluded Lim.

I've been shopping at Watsons for years because it's usually where I could easily find some of the best beauty and health products along with really great deals. I love how I am able to try new items without worrying too much about the price because they are sometimes sold at discounted prices or buy-one-take-one bundles.

I first discovered these argan oil products when Watsons offered them beforeat buy-two-take-one. Two of my friends and I divided the sale price between usand found out how great these products are. Now I buy them regularly!

Earlier this week, Asia's leading health and beauty retailer launched its "Members Get More" campaign that makes visiting a Watsons store even more exciting. Now, cardholders of SM Advantage Card (SMAC), SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards can get more savings, more points, and more value when they buy products from more than 500 Watsons branches nationwide.

more savings, more points, more valueapply for an SMAC membership today!

Many of us, I'm sure, would have more reasons to shop at Watsons given additional rewards and exclusive privileges for card-bearing customers. Be entitled to "members only" promotions by looking for the Green Member Tag on hundreds of products that indicate low prices. What's more, the rewards points you earn on your card can be used to pay for your next purchases!

dozens of sun care products sold at lower members prices

Additionally, members also get exclusive freebies and join eRaffle promos exclusively for us! One good example is the recent Make Your Summer Promo where members get a chance to win a trip for four to any of five local summer destinations. Read more about that one, here. Plus, members will also be first to be notified of upcoming deals and offers as well as receive invites to exclusive events.

Viki Encarnacion, Watsons Marketing Director, affirmed how much they want to make their shoppers feel special. "So we make sure they enjoy perks of being a loyal customer every time they visit our stores. With the Members Get More program, they can get more savings, more points, and even get exclusive prices by using their SM Advantage, SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards card."

make sure to look for the green member tag to get the best deals

Not yet an SMAC holder? Simply sign up for membership at any Watsons store nationwide to start enjoying the benefits of the Members Get More program!

It still feels surreal that I was able to finish a half marathon for the very first time just last Sunday! In all honesty, I have never, in my wildest dreams, thought I'd come to a point in my fitness journey where I would go beyond the 10k race that I was already so happy to finish two years ago. You can read about that story, here.

with my rightfully earned 21k medal :)

But, I guess leveling up is mandatory in many aspects of life, running definitely included. In fact, I just ran my first 16k two months ago (that one can be found here) and had my hubby and friends encouraging me to go for 21k soon because, as they said, I just have to add 5k to the distance. Yeah, right. As if it's that easy!

And yet, opportunities seem to present themselves at the right time, just when I needed a little push. When my husband and I were invited to cover the launch of NatGeo Run 2017, I had the "now or never" feeling when I was about to choose my distance category. Okay, I thought, I just have to psych myself that running an additional five kilometers wouldn't be so bad.

So I trained for a month and a half, doing practice runs two to three times a week and trying really hard to "break the wall" and get a second wind to avoid giving up too soon. My distances ranged from 8k or 10k on some days to as far as 12k or 14k on other days. My very encouraging husband assured me that accumulating those distances are making me stronger and getting my muscles used to longer runs enough to finish 21k on race day.

On April 23rd, hubby left our hotel room for MOA at midnight to make it to the 2AM gun start for 42k runners while I followed two hours later to catch my 3:30AM gun start. The race village was already filled with thousands of people when I got there and, despite being alone, I felt very comfortable in the presence of fellow runners who were, I assumed, as stoked as I was to start running.

before the 21k gun startphoto credit: NatGeo Run FB page

I joined the first wave of 21k runners at the starting line and ran at my usual training pace. It was very tempting to try and catch up to the pacers who have specific finishing times (2:00, 2:15, 2:30, etc.) on their backs. As much as I would love to do a sub-three, calculations based on my average pace during practice runs indicated that I'd most likely finish the course around 3 hours and 30 minutes. And that's fine with me. I'd rather reach the finish line still breathing instead of collapsing somewhere along the route and going DNF.

For the first time, I ran past the usual 10k U-turn along Roxas Boulevard and reached Rizal Park after one hour. I smiled at the thought that, on ordinary days, I wouldn't be caught dead (pun intended) in that area while it's still dark. But, on that particular moment, at 4:30AM, I appreciated the chance to pass by the place and nod a salute to our country's national hero before I went on my way.

Rizal Park before dawn

Once more, I passed the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) going to the Buendia flyover then the EDSA flyover. I couldn't help but stop once in a while to take photos so I can preserve memories of this new milestone. Approaching the flyovers, it's always quite a sight to see hundreds of other runners who are also on their way to reach his/her own individual fitness goals.

If there's one thing though that disappointed me about the race (well, actually even during other races in the past), it's the lack of discipline shown by many runners when it comes to disposing trash. Yes, I know that many are pushing themselves to clock in new personal records and are rushing to finish running as soon as possible, but that is no excuse to litter the road!

a lovely banaba tree standing proudly along Roxas Boulevardwe live in a beautiful world, let's keep it that way!

While the organizers have provided drinking stations, paper cups, and trash receptacles, it is up to us to make an effort to help keep our running route as litter-free as possible. If you don't have a personal bottle to refill, consciously stop at the hydration area, finish your drink, and leave your cup there before running again. That's not too hard to do, people!!!

Seriously, it's not okay to have the mindset that there are others who will be cleaning up after the race so there should be no problem about littering. The NatGeo Run is an Earth Day Run for the benefit of World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and there you were, tossing your cups, sponges, and even banana peels at the side of the road way past the drinking stations. That is so not cool, guys and gals! I can't blame people bashing the run on social media but the bad publicity has reflected on everyone. How shameful, indeed, to be called eco-warriors when you don't even know how to properly dispose of trash :(

badges of honor: 21k finisher's shirt and medalI wish everyone who got these also deserve to be called eco-warriors

For the non-runners who readily judged the race participants as a whole, I hope you'll realize that NOT ALL the runners are hypocrites. Many of us also care about the environment and are trying to do our part without any fanfare. I just want to set the record straight. Anyhow, rant over.

Let me just end this post on a positive note that anything can be achieved if you set your mind and heart to doing it -- whether it's running your first 5k or being an environment advocate. At the end of the day, our goal should be to serve as inspirations to others so that they, too, could change for the better. As to leveling up, to those who also ran last Sunday, whether it's your first time to join the NatGeo Run or not, I hope that you would also aim to improve your attitude and mindset when it comes to protecting our planet. After all, it's the only one we've got.

Human beings are born to discover. Just look at infants who already want to touch, smell, hear, and taste everything around them before they even celebrate their first birthday! As we grow older, this innate hunger for knowledge is fulfilled by educational institutions that fill our minds with various information. However, many of the data – including complex equations, formulas, historical dates, and scientific facts -- are often forgotten or merely stored and not fully understood.

In fact, numerous studies show that people lose that spark of curiosity through years of learning via rote memorization and repetitive instruction. You see, when we focus too much on what we learn, and not why and how we learn it, creative thinking can become inhibited.

nurturing curiosity

This is a significant point, especially in today’s fast-paced, lateral-thinking, and creative-driven world. Yes, traditional methods of education may have produced some of history’s most brilliant minds, but in the past two decades, there has been a radical shift in terms of equipping students with effective skills for real-world success. Under uniform conditions, learning systems that emphasize strict standardization may be ideal but, as many of us know now, not all students learn the same way.

According to Sandy Arellano, a passionate educator at Montessori de San Juan School and an advocate of progressive type of learning, what is happening now is that schools and parents are too fixated on good academic performance. “I can tell you through years of experience, however, that doing well in school is the natural result of a happy, motivated, and well-adjusted student,” she emphasized. “So why not focus diligently on the cause, rather than the effect?”

"What we learn with pleasure, we never forget." - Alfred Mercier

Part of Montessori de San Juan’s core objectives, explained Arellano, is to address the downsides of traditional schooling that often result in lethargic, poor-performing children. These drawbacks include:

• over-scheduled students

• too much note-taking and not enough attention to actual lessons

• over-cramming information in a short period of time

• an unreasonable amount of homework that often goes unsupervised during the actual process of completion

• a one-size fits all mentality for learners

play is the brain's favorite way of learning

“Are our students less busy or less equipped?” asked Arellano. “Quite the opposite. Our children have such a love for learning, and a genuine excitement to go to school and practice what they are taught, that they consistently end up scoring higher than their peers in standardized tests.”

Moreover, she believes that schools should likewise make a determined effort to provide students with an environment that makes them feel empowered rather than constrained. “Each student is an individual, and different from all others. Children have their own special way of learning and understanding things,” noted Arellano. “Attempting to fit all of them into a rigid and standardized structure may not maximize their full potential.”

teachers who love teaching, teach kids to love learning

Reasonably, a small class size is vital for teachers to know the needs of each and every student. In Montessori de San Juan, there are around 150 students from grades 1 to 12, with approximately 12-15 students per class. With small groups like these, it becomes easier to gauge whether a child is a visual, tactile, or auditory learner. From there, teachers can better assess their approach to the students.

Arellano added that another education issue nowadays is too much time spent presenting material to students, leaving very little time for practice, which leads to piles of homework. “In our school, everything is worksheets, modules, and hands-on activities related to the subject matter.” Moreover, in the classroom setting, students are grouped in wider age spans, namely 3-6, 7-9, and 10-12 to help them form relationships and bonds with kids of different ages.

MDS encourages bonding between kids of different ages

As students get older, the teaching method becomes semi-progressive and the setup semi-traditional, adding textbooks into the mix. With age also comes a bit of homework kept at a minimum since teachers assess their students through classroom performance. “Our classroom activities involve 90 percent application and only 10 percent discussion, so a lot of the kids are able to see the practicality and the use of the subject matter they are learning,” explained Arellano. “We try to show them the direct applications to what they are learning.”

With numerous success stories regarding progressively educated children, Montessori de San Juan is gaining quite a reputation as an elite institution. The school, however, remains grounded in its mission to cultivate students who love learning so much, and learn so well, that they will be able to learn whatever needs to learned in the future. With these indicators, the school is definitely and successfully fulfilling its goals.

the future belongs to the curious

Learn more about Montessori de San Juan by calling 725-6306 or 239-1102 or visiting montessoridesanjuan.com.ph

Two years since its inception, HOOQ continues to deliver the best of both Asian and Hollywood entertainment to homes across Asia. With subscribers in the millions, the largest Video on Demand service in South East Asia provides over 30,000 hours of quality entertainment that will be increased with new partnerships from Paramount Pictures, BBC Worldwide, and Endamol Shine.

celebrating HOOQ's 2nd birthday at 2020 Bar

In addition, HOOQ has just announced a new service that delivers movies fresh from the cinema to your home. Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD) allows blockbuster movies to hit the service within three months of their theatrical release. To top it off, customers who currently subscribe to the Subscription VOD (SVOD) service will be able to enjoy one movie from the TVOD library each month as part of their subscription at no additional cost!

Happy Birthday HOOQ!

"Securing new partners such as Paramount Pictures, BBC, and Endemol Shine are a testament to the fact that HOOQ has the right formula to deliver quality entertainment to Asian homes, with a balance of the best Asian films and dramas alongside solid Hollywood blockbusters and series," described Peter Bithos, HOOQ Chief Executive Officer. "We have never been more elated and will continue to push boundaries to evolve and stay committed to delivering the best entertainment to our customers with new services such as TVOD that bring movies to your homes quicker than ever before -- even as part of your SVOD subscription."

HOOQ'S Peter Bithos

Build in Asia for Asia, HOOQ continuously innovates and delivers the best quality entertainment through the world's first download capability for Hollywood, its weekly pricing, or its ad-free freemium model. This successful formula comes from HOOQ's strategy of combining the best Asian and Hollywood content with a solid distribution partner network of the top telcos and broadband providers in the region including AIS, Airtel, Globe Telecom, Telkom, and Telkomsel, just to name a few.

DJs at HOOQ's 2nd Anniversary bash

"In the Philippines, we made sure to put together the best Filipino content for our subscribers with a combination of the top local studios and independent filmmakers. This, combined with HOOQ's strategy of serving premium Hollywood content, as well as our key distribution partnership with Globe, has contributed to making HOOQ the regional leader," pointed out Jane Cruz-Walker, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager.

As mentioned above, HOOQ subscribers will get access to watch one TVOD movie a month for free while additional movies can be rented for just P125.00 each. Every month, new movies will be uploaded from studios such as Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Disney, Dreamworks, and Pixar with titles such as Arrival, Underworld: Blood Wars, Fantastic Beasts and How to Find Them, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, just to name a few. With this new feature, HOOQ customers can now enjoy the largest library of Hollywood and Asian hits, TV series same day as the US, as well as the latest movies fresh off the cinemas!

pretty models

Filipino movie fans would likewise be glad to know that HOOQ has inked exclusive deals with Regal Entertainment and Viva Communications for digital rights to their new movies within three months of theatrical release. Recent hits such as Camp Sawi, Bakit Lahat ng Guapo May Boyfriend, and I Love You to Death have already debuted on HOOQ and are consistently in the top 10 list of most watched content by subscribers. Next to be released within the next quarter are Mano Po 7, Die Beautiful, The Escort, and My Rebound Girl with newly released movies to follow throughout the year.

with blogger friends

HOOQ is moreover bostering its line-up of Hollywood studio partnerships consisting of Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Disney, Dreamworks, Lionsgate, Miramax, Starz, and over a hundred Asian studios. New hit series are also now available from Endamol Shine and BBC including Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Mistresses, and Wolf Hall. Furthermore, the full catalog of DC shows are now also on HOOQ: Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, and Gotham. Meanwhile, Supergirl, Lucifer, and Powerless are available to stream within 24 hours of US airing.

my favorite show to stream on HOOQ

Get HOOQ'd by downloading the HOOQ app from the Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in to access its library of top Hollywood and Asian hits anytime, anywhere and on any device including computers, smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes, smart TVs via Google Chromecast, and all Apple devices.

If you are a Globe At Home customer, get up to up to six months access to HOOQ with plans P1,299 and up, while Globe mobile customers can also get u to six months trial on selected prepaid and postpaid plans. Visit www.hooq.tv to sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Good news to meat lovers! Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila is inviting everyone to come and grab a big bite with their Blockbuster Burgers available at The Lounge for the whole month of April! They are offering a mouthwatering selection of gigantic gourmet burgers infused with local and international flavors.

my son, Gab, joined the Titanic Burger challengeand finished in second place :)

Yesterday, my second son took on the Titanic Burger challenge with four other contenders. Living up to is name, this humongous treat is made of a savory 1/2 kg. Prime Angus Beef patty in sesame bun packed with Emmental cheese, bacon, lettuce, mushroom, tomatoes, and cucumber pickles. It is served with crispy fried onion rings and is priced at P1160 nett. The catch? If you finish eating everything in 20 minutes or less, you don't pay anything!

I was amazed that three (including a lady!) out of the five people who took on the challenge were able to eat their Titanic burgers before the time ran out. In case I'd order one on a future visit, I'd prefer to have it cut then share pieces with several family members or friends.

As such, I chose to try the much smaller Burger ni Heneral Luna (priced at P560 nett) instead. I love the adobo glazed pork patty that comes with kesong puti, tomato, lettuce, pickles, and fried egg.

Trina and I with our Burger ni Heneral Luna and Jaws Burger

My friend Trina opted for the Jaws Burger (P660 nett) made of beer battered fish fillet with tartar sauce and cucumber pickles served with French Fries. Needless to say, we were both fascinated by the black bun!

Aside from the three burgers already mentioned, you can also choose between Wild Wild Mex (P460 nett) made with crispy fried chicken fillet with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mustard mayonnaise, and potato wedges; or the Prince of Persia's Burger (P660 nett) with Arabic spiced minced lamb with tzatziki sauce and pickles in turmeric bun served with fried crisp onions.

Everybody's a winner just for trying!the contenders with Crimson Hotel executives and staff

Each order of these succulent burgers comes with a complimentary beer. For reservation or more information, please call (02) 863.2222. Don't forget, they are serving these only this April so make sure you drop by Crimson Hotel really, really soon!

Leukemia is one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines. In fact, around 3,977 patients were diagnosed with the disease in 2012 alone. With mortality rate at an alarming 5.3%, this silent killer needs to be addressed to prevent more people succumbing to the life-threatening condition.

cord blood banking gives babies a lifetime of protection

One of the modern treatments for leukemia is stem cell transplant using cord blood. This is blood that remains in the umbilical cord after a baby is born. It contains the healthiest stem cells that can replenish blood, regenerate damaged bone marrow, treat blood cancers, and correct genetic defects. Potentially, it is also a source for cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.

Through cord blood banking, families now have a chance to survive fatal genetic diseases like leukemia and other blood-related disease. In Asia, Cordlife Group Limited is among the first to offer this service and technology. The company is an international provider of umbilical cord blood and cord lining services.

preserving stem cells = preserving life

Cordlife Philippines, officially launched in February 2010, is the country's first and only private cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility aimed to give Filipinos the chance to benefit from the advantages of having a readily available supply of cord blood.

Earlier today, Cordlife launched One Blood to create awareness on cord blood banking's importance as an available standard option for families who may need stem cell transplant. This national advocacy is in partnership with the Philippine Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (PSMFM).

Under One Blood, free cord blood banking will be given to chosen pregnant mothers with a family history of diseases or who have family members with disease/s that can be treated by cord blood and who might be a candidate for stem cell transplantation.

a newborn's umbilical cord contains the healthiest stem cells

During the press launch, it was announced that one family will be sponsored each month until December 2017 and choosing them will be based on need. Cordlife officials are hopeful that they can identify families who would benefit the most from the free service.

Apart from cord blood banking, other services will be extended to the beneficiaries such as:

• Transplant Care is a one-time subsidy of SGD 50,000 to partially cover medical costs of transplantation for the child whose cord blood unit is stored, applicable for use in standard treatment at any accredited hospital in the Philippines

• Cord Blood Network - an assisted search for matching cord blood for legal parents and grandparents of the Cordlife child, tapping Asia's largest network of public cord blood banks.

• Cordlife Quality Guarantee that assures parents of a cord blood unit of suitable match or SGD 50,000 to defray medical costs if the cord blood stem cells lost its viability at the point of transplant, as well as additional Professional Indemnity Insurance to safeguard the family from financial loss resulting from direct malpractice.

many Cordlife moms attest that the investment is worth the peace of mind

Some of the popular Filipino personalities who have banked their babies' cord blood include TV personalities Jolina Magdangal-Escueta, Pia Guanio-Mago, and Dimples Romana; models Patty Laurel-Filart and Kelly Misa-Fernandez; and broadcast and radio personalities Nina Corpuz-Rodriguez, Delamar Arias, and Andi Manzano.

For those who are wondering how much it costs: an 18-year cord blood banking contract is worth P165,000. To know more about One Blood, call Cordlife at (02) 332.1888 or log on to www.cordlife.ph.

There are more than 200,000 reported dengue cases in the Philippines in 2016 with around 1000 cases leading to death. Apart from the health risks, dengue also has an impact on public health costing billions of pesos of tax payers money with treatment costing tens of thousands in pesos per patient.

Did you know? Dengue cases in the Philippines number to thousands every year!

Recently, leading health and beauty chain Watson Philippines announced the availability of dengue vaccination in select stores nationwide. According to Danilo Chiong, Watsons Trading Health Director, this is part of their commitment to improve the lives and health of Filipinos by making health care more accessible. "Dengue is a recurring epidemic in the country, that's why we recognize the importance of protecting Filipinos against this deadly disease through the vaccination," he says.

The dengue vaccination was launched in the country by the Department of Health (DOH) together with the Department of Education (DepEd) early last year through school-based immunization approach. The program aims to vaccinate about one million Grade 4 pupils aged nine years old and above enrolled in public schools in several regions of the country. Later on, it was made available in medical clinics and now, Watsons is the first retailer to offer it in the Philippine market.

trivia: the first dengue vaccine was created by Sanofi Pasteur

Dengvaxia, the first vaccine against dengue, was created by leading multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur, an expert in the development of vaccinations. The vaccine took more than 20 years to develop and has been thoroughly tested, based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Studies of the vaccine included more than 41,000 people and were carried out in 15 countries including the Philippines. The results were fully reviewed by a committee of independent experts and has also been recommended by WHO.

As of February 2017, Dengvaxia has been approved in 14 countries where dengue is endemic including Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines. It has also gotten the endorsement of the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) and the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP).

FYI, it only takes 3 shots to get protected against the 4 dengue strains

According to a study by the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health, the vaccine is expected to reduce dengue cases in the country by over 24 percent in a span of five years. To be taken in three doses at 0 - 6 - 12 months interval, the dengue vaccination can protect the individual from all four strains of the dengue virus. This can be administered to people aged 9 to 45 years old.

The latest addition to the vaccines offered by Watsons, Dengvaxia will cost P4,000 per dose or P12,000 for all three doses. This is a reasonable price given the high incidence of dengue and high cost of treatment in the Philippines.

get your family vaccinated against dengue to avoid costly medical bills in the future

Schedules of the dengue vaccination are as follows and will be available in more than 100 Watsons stores nationwide:

Chiong adds, "Watsons also offer Cervical Cancer, Flu, and Pneumonia vaccination at scheduled intervals throughout the year. We will have a doctor in the store during vaccination dates to administer the shots."

Who is:

I am a contributing writer to various Philippine print and online publications. I blog because I enjoy writing about other topics that are not assigned by my editors. I'm a mom of four boys and wife to a man I consider my bestest friend in the world.

"I write because I find humor in the absurdities of daily life. Sometimes I feel sadness too, and I find I can write my tears away. I write when I'm angry and feel I must right a wrong. I write when I'm touched and want others to see beauty and gentleness. I write, as many others do, because I must." -Elaine Fantle Shimberg